Replenish the Earth by Anna Jacobs

Author:Anna Jacobs [Jacobs, Anna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Romance
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 2001-11-22T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

The village church seemed more crowded than usual to Sarah that Sunday. Heads turned as she entered and stayed turned when they saw her on Will Pursley’s arm. Voices buzzed like a swarm of bees as he escorted her and his mother to the Bedham pew and then sat down with them there, arms folded, staring straight ahead.

Mr Sewell’s voice floated across the aisle, asking what ‘that fellow’ was doing at the front among his betters. Sarah was afraid Will would become angry, but he didn’t seem even to hear the comment. She realised then that he was nervous, as nervous as she was, so she reached out to clasp his hand. He turned his head and as their eyes met, she smiled and after a searching glance, his eyes softened into an answering smile.

Then his mother shifted uneasily in her seat and whispered, ‘Will, are you sure we should be here?’

His eyes held Sarah’s for a few seconds longer, then he turned to reassure his mother. ‘Of course we should. Mistress Bedham has invited us to share her pew.’

Jessie Pursley tried to smile at him and nod, for she was very proud of her tall, handsome son, but she couldn’t help glancing round and wincing as she saw Mr Sewell glaring at her. And she still hadn’t grown used to the idea of her Will marrying a Bedham.

She turned round to look back at a friend, who was staring at her open-mouthed. She wished she was still sitting in her usual place. All her life the front pews had belonged to the gentry and she had sat part-way towards the back. She had still not taken it in that she was to go and live with them at the Manor after his marriage, and was to be in charge of the dairy there, with Mary to help her.

Perhaps she was dreaming all this? She hoped not. Her Will looked so happy - and Mistress Bedham did, too. Only she was supposed to call her ‘Sarah’ now. Surely this couldn’t be wrong?

It was a relief to all three of them when Mr Rogers entered the church and people turned to pay attention to him. The service began and was quite short, because he was still not well enough to hold a longer one. After one hymn, he opened the Bible and said quietly to the congregation, ‘Today I will read to you from the Book of Jeremiah, Chapter 29, Verses 5 and 6:

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